Last week, Y4 participated in an RE role-play, led by Mrs Mulhall (who, interestingly, is an RE specialist and taught in India). The children role-played the aarti ritual. To remind the children that they were role-playing, they were invited to wear a headscarf and took their shoes off, outside the hall – just as you would if you were to enter a Hindu Temple. In the ‘homemade’ temple they were greeted by Miss Pollit and Miss Winzarwho helped each child role-play the aarti ritual. The children enjoyed the role play and hearing the story about Shiva too. The children used all their senses yesterday and understood why this was an important part of the ritual. Mahashivratri is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva – one of the deities of the Hindu Trinity. Hindus will celebrate Mahashivaratri across the world next month on February 18. While most Hindu festivals are celebrated during the day, Mahashivratri is celebrated during the night and day that come just before the new moon.